PERCUSSION

Kit and Tuned Percussion

Naomi Cornish

​Naomi returned to brass banding at the end of 2025 after a nearly 15-year break from playing. She first took up drums at the age of 16 and quickly developed a passion for percussion. The turning point in her musical journey came in 2000 when she joined Saltash Town Band, discovering a love for brass banding that would shape the next decade of her musical life. In 2001, Naomi moved to Crownhill Royal British Legion Plymouth Band (later Soundhouse Brass). After meeting Goff Richards at the SWBBA Mid-Winter Brass Workshop, she was encouraged to consider studying at the University of Salford. Taking that advice, Naomi left the South West in September 2002 to study Music at Salford, majoring in Conducting and Composition. During her time there, she studied under renowned musicians including David King, Roy Newsome and Peter Graham and, in 2003, joined Leyland Band. She spent two memorable years with the band under the batons of Garry Cutt and Michael Fowles, whilst also deputising for numerous bands across the North West and Yorkshire, including YBS, Wingates and many others across a range of sections. Alongside her percussion playing, Naomi also developed a reputation as a conductor. Between 2005 and 2007 she conducted several bands and was even approached by a band in County Durham to prepare and direct them for a local contest. Following a short break, Naomi joined Faireys Band in 2010 before stepping away from brass banding in 2012 to focus on raising her young family as a single parent. More than a decade later, a chance meeting in Tavistock with someone she had played alongside many years earlier led to a conversation about Hatherleigh Silver Band’s need for a percussionist. Encouraged to come along for a rehearsal, Naomi decided to give banding another try—and has not looked back since. Returning to music has been particularly meaningful following a long battle with a spinal CSF leak, which was successfully repaired in late 2024. After a period when playing music again seemed unlikely, being back behind a percussion section has been both rewarding and inspiring. Naomi is proud to be a member of Hatherleigh Silver Band and is enjoying rebuilding her confidence, supporting local bands where needed, and once again being part of the brass band community she has always loved.